Local farms need your business. And frankly, you need them | Guest column
Floridians have forgotten their local farmers in recent years because of a heavy reliance on grocery store chains.
That is why, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Floridians had to wait in lines for hours at the grocery store, instead of driving a few minutes down the road to purchase fresh goods from their local farm. This disconnect also impacted farmers. When grocery store shelves stood barren, Florida’s local farmers were stuck with surplus goods that were expiring.
I noticed the lines at the grocery stores and saw farmers asking for help, so I started the Florida Farm Finder Facebook group to connect these groups in need. As a result, Floridians could quickly find local farms to relieve them of surplus goods while purchasing fresh goods. Since 2020, our Facebook group has grown from a Polk County group to reaching Floridians statewide with over 70,000 members, reaching five million people annually.
The popularity of our group highlights a desire to connect with local farmers and consume the amazing food grown in our state. With the health-conscious movement growing, many Floridians are shopping for local produce for the health benefits.
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Produce from nearby farms reaches peak ripeness when harvested and retains more nutrients than supermarket produce, which is often picked prematurely and loses vitamins during extended storage and transport. Our group encourages the ethos of, "know your farmer, know your food," which promotes building a relationship with farmers to learn more about the food you consume.
Not only do you learn more about your food when you form a relationship with your local farmer, but you also further unite our community in a time when so much divides us.
While our community is mainly on Facebook, there is nothing more powerful than the in-person connections that come from our group. The best stories have been from farmers and consumers who have met new people in their community or found their new favorite spot to take their children to pick fruit.
I grew up on a small farm, and I loved the experience of picking our food and watching the crops grow. But when I started my own family, I worried my children would not have the same experience because we were not living on a farm.
Luckily, I developed friendships with farmers through this group, and my children have fallen in love with visiting the farms, especially the u-pick farms. While visiting small farms benefits our health and the economy, it is also a family-friendly activity and learning experience for children and parents alike.
By investing in local farmers, you have access to fresh, wholesome products and you contribute to the economic vitality and environmental sustainability of your local community. I am optimistic about the future of local farming due to the popularity of our group, but I want to encourage all Floridians to find a farm nearby. Everyone benefits when our local farmers thrive.
Jillian Childs is the founder of Florida Farm Finder, a group based in Polk County that helps Floridians find small farms in their community.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Find a local farm and reap the benefits | Guest column
